Module 12: Android Career Tips

Module 13: Next Steps

Course Description

This course is designed to give students a gentle but solid introduction to Android development. Students will get to understand the core components of an Android app, how to use common UI elements and how to work with databases on Android.

Students will be introduced to modern Android tools like Architectural components and Material Design.

During the course, students will develop different mini projects and would be given a final capstone project to develop at the end of the course.

The source code from projects within the course will be made available for download.

Prerequisites

● Good understanding of Java programming and OOP concepts

● knowledge of basic SQL statements

● Experience with Git and GitHub recommended, but not mandatory

● A system with at least 4GB of RAM storage

Course Goals

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

❑ A - Understand the core components that make up an Android App

❑ B - Use the Android studio IDE to develop Android Apps

❑ C - Make use of Android UI elements such as RecyclerView

❑ D - Understand how to use the Android Architectural Components

❑ E - Make a simple App that works with a database

❑ F - Publish an App on the Google Play Store

When walking down the street, it is hard not to spot someone with a mobile phone in hand. While it may seem as if the iPhone, and therefore iOS users dominate the consumer base, it’s actually Google Android that leads the market share.

Total Google Android users squeak by iOS customers, having 51.1 percent of the market, according to Statista. iOS users make up 48.1 percent.

With so many customers using Google Android, for developers, persuing an Android development certification course online could help advance his or her career.

Should I learn Android development?

Because so many mobile devices operate on Android, the demand for Android developers is high. Last year more than 50 percent of global web traffic was on mobile devices, according to Statista. This means that 50 percent of that traffic was on an Android device.

By learning Android development, it increases one’s chance of being hired. If being more likely to land the job alone is not a strong enough reason, money can be. The average salary for an Android developer is $115,780 a year, with a usual $2,000 bonus, according to Indeed. Some of the jobs listed site a salary far closer to $200,000 a year. So, learning Android development can be good for one’s career.

In addition to customers’ demand for Android operating systems on more and more devices, there’s also an opportunity for creativity for developers. With increased demand, there will also be a desire for increased innovation and new apps for the developers to build.

What do I need to learn for Android development?

To get started with Android development, a student does need to understand and know Java script. The good news is Java is the most popular operating language and can be applied to far more than just Android development.

Along with a strong knowledge of Java, students also need to have an understanding of Java’s Object Oriented Programming, also known as OOP concepts.

Students should also know Structured Query Language (SQL statements) and experience with Git and GitHub is recommended, but not mandatory.

In terms of materials, since students can take these courses at home on their own devices, Cybrary recommends having a system with at least 4GB of RAM storage to successfully execute the desired operations in the Android development course.

Where do you learn Android app development?

Students have a few options to successfully learned Android app development.

Some students can successfully learn with books or readings on Android app development, and then by downloading Android Studio. Through trial and following instructions, some students can teach themselves.

Google has also released an Android Developer’s Blog that helps developers looking to learn Android.

If a student is looking for a more guided way to learn and obtain android development certification, taking online classes through training programs such as Cybrary can help them truly master the content.

Cybrary offers online Android development classes that help students learn at their own pace. Cybrary’s Android development training is broken down into 13.1 modules, that on average range from two minutes to 15 minutes long, so students can learn at their own pace and start and stop as they please, making it a convenient way to learn.

How hard is it to learn Android development?

If a student has a basic understanding of Java, that’s a great start to making learning Android development easier. However, if the student does not yet know Java, it can make the total experience of learning Java and then Android development take longer and feel more cumbersome.

Taking the time to also truly understand object oriented programming, methods, classes, variables, flow control will help easy a developer’s learning curve with Android development.

While actually learning Android development, mastering the basics, such as activity lifecycle, layouts, contexts, and services, will help students develop apps with ease.

How long will it take to learn Android development?

How long it will take a student to learn Android development depends on the pace at which he or she learns, and how much time he or she has to commit to learning the new concepts.

The Cybrary Android Fundamentals program has 13.1 modules that are a total of approximately four hours. Students could easily finish this in a single day or space it out over one to a few weeks.

To truly master Android development and continue beyond the fundamentals will likely take six to 12 months, depending on the student’s pace and which courses the student decides to take. Given the potential salary increase and job potential for the long term, this medium-term commitment is well worth it.